Walking heel



A118 5,' 1952 c. A. WILTRoUT l 2,605,761v

WALKING HEEL Filed May 13. 1949 i'lcation: i

Patented Aug. 5, .1952

UNITED vSTA*.IES' liDATlNr oFFlcE I j. 2,605,761 f y WALKING HEEL V Creed A. Wiltrout, St. PaulrMnn.

l- Aispncaticn May 13,1949,seria1N.92,979

My inventionl relatesto an improvement in walking heel of a type useful in conjunction with leg casts and the like. f e

In recent years it has become rather common practice to encaseA an injured -leg ina cast and to provide a stirrup or braceon the cast so that the injured person may walk without injuring the cast or the injured leg. By this method patients with broken legs, fractures or the like Vare able to walk much sooner than would other- Ywise be possible without the use of crutches or the like. Y

-A feature of the present 4invention lies in the 'provision of a walking heel which may be embedded di-rectly in the cast to form an integral vpart thereof. The heel is so designed as to project below the cast and below the heel of `the injured foot so as to support'the weight of the injured person through the cast. VThe heel is preferably circular-at its base so that the foot may be moved in any direction with ease. This arrangement differs somewhat froml the usual practice in which the stirrup sometimes employed comprises a U-shaped brace which extends on opposite sides of the cast and-below the heel portion of the cast and is thus providedwith a transversely extending tread or bearing portion.

A'feature of thepresent invention lies in the provision of a walking -heel having a series of anchoring members embedded in the body there- 'of which may permit the heel to be'embedded in the cast. `These wires or reinforcing members form a firm connectionbetween the heel and the cast and extend outwardly frorntheeheel invarious directions so'as to form a rmanchor for connecting the heel tothe cast.

An added feature of the presentr invention lies in the provision of a heel'which may, if desired, be secured to a stirrup orbrace somewhat similar to that now commonly employed. In this form of construction the heel is made of the same general'shape and design as in the previously described construction, but an anchoring plate is 'embeddedwithin theheel to which 'the brace or 'stirrup may be removably connected.

'These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully `set Aforth in the following specification and claims.

vIn' the drawings forming a part of Amy speci- Figurel is a perspective view of a portionof a cast showing my walking heelr embedded therein. Figure 2 is .a topplan view of the Vheel'illustratedinFigure 1. Hf

f lFigure 3 is a perspective view ofthe anchoring showninFigure 8.-

. 7 claims. (c1. 12s-83.5)

members showing their relationship when embedded within a heel.

Figure 4 is a side/elevation view of the heel of Figure 1 showing the construction thereof.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of Walking heel construction.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view through the walking heel illustrated in Figure 5. i

Figure '7 is a `topA plan View of the heel illustrated in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a top plan View of a modied'form of the heel shown in Figures 6 and 7.

Figure 9 is a sectional view through the heel Figure 10 is a sectional view through another modified form of heel construction.

The walking heel A is designed to be embedded in the lower end of a cast B of the type used to encase aleg which has been broken or otherwise injured. The cast B is formed of plaster of Paris or similar material and holdsthe portions of the injured limb in proper location during the healing action.- The heel'A is employed so that the, patient may be ambulatory before the leg has mended.

The heel A includes a rounded `body I0 of gum rubber or similar material which is preferably tapered slightly'in form. The upper surface II of the heelbody I0 isusually substantially flat and is of slightly larger diameter than the bottom surface I2. The bottom surface I2 is usually provided with a shallow indentation I3 at the -center of the heel and a series `of, ring shaped grooves I4 concentric with the periphery of the heel encir-cling the ,indentationy I3; lThese grooves I4 and the center indentation I3 create a grippingeifect on -aV surface such as a floor or walk and prevent the-heel from slipping in any direction.

TheY upper surfaceII of the heel4 is vpreferably provided with four equally spaced substantially cylindrical cavities -which are preferably substantially equi-distant :from the center of thev heel. The two-opposed -cavities I5 are similar in size and shape andla second opposed pair of cavities I6 are also somewhat similar in size and shape, although the cavities I5 and I6 need not necessarily Vbe of 'thesame size. 'Apair of oppositely disposed shallow recesses Il' of generally rectangular shape are provided in theupper surface II outwardlyof the cavities I 6 and centered with respect thereto.V A central shallow depression I9 `is provided at the center of the upper surface I I.

A pair of crossed anchoring members 2t and 'ZI are embedded within the heel vbody Iii to extend outwardly from the heel in asubstantially radial direction. These anchoring members 2| are preferably formed as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings and are embedded in the material forming the heel body l0. The center portion 22 of the anchoring member 20 is connected by o-sets 23 and 24 to the ends 25 and 25 of this anchoring member so that the ends 25 and 26 may be substantially flush with the upper surface H of the heel while the center portion 22 is located toward the. bottom surface I2 thereof. Similarly the anchoring member 2l is provided with a center portion 21 which is connected by c-sets 29 and 36 to the ends 3l and 32 so that the central portion 21 may be embedded deeply` in the bottom of the heel while the ends 3| and 32 are substantially ush with the upper surface l I. The ends of the anchoring members. are preferably n the same plane, but the off-sets vare of proper length to permit the reinforcing members to cross as illustrated.

As will benoted from Figure 2 ofthe drawings the reinforcing members 26 and 2l. arerarranged so that the endsof` these members are substantially a distance apart equal to the diameter of the upper surface I lV ofth'e heel. In other words the anchoring members20 and 2i do not cross at right anglesy but are arranged? at a somewhat lesser angle apart so that Vthe reinforcing members are notV unduly wide.- YAs a result the heel may extend most of the width ofthe cast if desired without causing the anchoringV members to project from the cast. Y

The apertures iandV I6 provide somewhat greater iiexibility in the heel and increase the cushioning action. The molds in which the heels A are formed are` designed to vform either the type 0f construction illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, or the modified forms of construction which will be later described. In certain of the modified forms of Yconstruction the holes l5 or l5V act to accommodate bolts or other fastening means. I l A The use of theV walking heel A is believed obvious from an examination of Figure 1 o f the drawings. When the cast Bfis formed of plaster of Paris or similar material, the walking heel is partially embedded in the plaster so that the anchoring arms. or rods 20 andV 2| extend into the body of the castand form a firm anchor for the heel. As a result the. patient may `walk long before the healing operation is completed.

In the form of construction illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings the heel C is of the same generalV shape as the heel A and may be actually formed in the same mold. However, the heel C is provided with an anchoring strip 33 which is U-shaped in cross section and includes a generally circular disc 34 having a pair of upwardly extending spacing arms 35 and 36 at opposite sides thereof. The disc-34 is preferably notched about its periphery with spaced notches 31 and may be provided with a central aperture 33 which permits the rubber to extend through the body of the plate. 'Ihedisc 34 is likewise provided with diametrically yopposed apertures 40 near the outer periphery of the disc and somewhat similar oppositely disposedthreaded apertures 4l closely adjacent to the upwardly extending arms 35 and 36. Theupper ends ofthe arms 35 and 36 may terminate slightly below the upper surface 42 of theheel body 43. This'permits the material forming the heel to be compressed slightly when the heel is attached to a stirrup or brace. I l

In Figure 5 of the draw/ings I disclose a stirrup 4 or brace 44 of a type which may be used in connecting the heel C to the cast D. It will be noted that the stirrup 44 includes a transversely extending portion 45 and a pair of parallel upwardly extending arms 46 and 41. Transverse clamping members 49 may be riveted or otherwise attached to the upper ends of the arms 46 and 41. The heel C is attached to the cross member 45 as indicated in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings.

As best noted in these 'gures'; cap screws or bolts 50 extend through the cross member 45 of the stirrup and extend through the spaced recesses 5l in the heel body 43. These cap screws 50 also extend through the threaded apertures 4I in the disc 34. By tightening these cap screws the upperends of the arms 35 and 36 are drawn tightly against the under surface of the cross member 45 of the stirrup so as to rmly connect the heel to the stirrup. The resilience of the heel body permits the desired compression and cushioning action. but at the same time the anchoring plate is firmly connected to the stirrup. d

The heel C is similar to the heel A in that a member is embedded within the body. of the heel to form an attachment with a cast. In the rst described construction the members. embedded in the heel extend into the body of the` cast in such a way as to prevent movement of the heel relative to the cast. In the construction shown in Figures 6 and '1, the heel is connected to a stirrup or brace, which in turn is fastened to the cast. This is the more conventional way of fastening theV heel, but is obviously somewhat more complicated than the4 previously describedA arrangement. v

In Figures 8 and 9 Indisclosea modified form of constructionY E which is designed for attachment to the brace or stirrup 44. The brace or stirrup is identical to that-.previously described and includes a cross member'45 to which the heel E is attached. The stirrup includes; generallyparallel side membersy 46 and41-for holding the heelto the cast.- l Y Y Y The heel Eris provided with a U-shaped'reinforcing strip 5I which extends into the body of the heel to provide' a means of connectingthe heel to the stirrup 44. VThe strip 5l includes the transversely extending vcenter portion- 52 and a pair. of upwardly extending end arms 53; The arms 53Y act similarly to the arms 35 and 36 of the heel C. A transversely extending strip 54 is spot'welded or otherwise attached to the strip portion 52 to provide anl additional anchoring area, the cross strip 54-.isfprovided with apertures 55 therethrough, and the strip portion V52 is provided with threaded4 apertures 56 therethrough. The apertures 56 are aligned with apertures 51 in the heel body '59 and are designed to accomv modate cap screws or. other'v suitable fastening means, by means of which the centralportion 52 of the stripl'aly may be connected tothe cross member 45 of the stirrupf44. In this construction as in the previously described construction the arms 53 preferably terminate slightly below the .upper surface of the heel body 59- so-that the tightening of the cap screws 60 tendsr to compress the portion of the vheel engaging the cross-member 45 of the strip.

In Figure 10 ofthe drawings I disclose another modified form of construction of heel. This heel which is designated in the drawings by the letter F includes an anchoring platel which may be any *desiredV shape or size` and may be either-of joined through the plate.

disc-like outline or may be rectangular. Openings such as E2 vare preferably provided in the disc 6| so that the rubber of the heel may be Threaded apertures 53 are provided in the plate El in alignment with apertures 64 through the body 65 of the heel. Spacing sleeves 66 are provided between the plate Si and the upper surface of the heel body so as to hold the plate 6I in properly spaced relation to the cross bar 45 of the stirrup 44.

Bolts or cap screws 61 extend through the cross bar 45,`through the sleeves 66, and through the plate 6l to hold the plate in Xed relation to the cross bar 45. Thus the anchoring plate 6I is held in definite iixed relation to the stirrup 44.

It will be seen that all of the heels illustrated are very similar in form and may be made with the same molding apparatus. The body of the heel compresses suiiiciently to cushion the shock and the heel is held in place either by embedding arms of the heel into the cast or by securing the heel to a stirrup, which in turn is connected to the cast. All of the heels employ anchoring members of some type which are embedded in the body of the heel and form a firm connection therewith.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my walking heel construction, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, I desire to have it understood that these are only illustrative thereof and that obvious changes may made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

l. A Walking heel for use in conjunction with a cast, the heel including a body of resilient material having upper and lower surfaces, anchoring means embedded within the resilient material between said surfaces and anchored in place by resilient material overlying and underlying the anchoring means, and means carried by said anchoring means for connecting said anchoring means to the cast.

2. A walking heel including a body of resilient material having anchoring means embedded therein between the upper and lower surfaces thereof, said anchoring means projecting from opposite sides of vsaid resilient body.

3. A walking heel comprising a body of resilient material having anchoring means projecting therefrom, said anchoring means being permanently molded in and embedded within said body of resilient material to form an integral part thereof 4. A walking heel including a body of resilient material, a pair of anchoring members embedded within said material and projecting therefrom, said arms intersecting within said body of resilient material and extending outwardly from said body in diverging relation.

5. A walking heel including a body of resilient material, an anchoring plate embedded within said material -between the upper and lower surfaces thereof, and a cross member to which said heel is attached, and bolts extending through said cross member and into said reinforcing member to connect said heel to said cross member.

6. A walking heel including a body of resilient' material having an anchoring plate embedded within the same between the upper and lower surfaces thereof, up-turned arms on said plate, apertures in said resilient body between said upturned arms, and threaded apertures in said reinforcing member aligned with said apertures.

7. A walking heel comprising a resilient body having top, bottom and side surfaces, and a rodlike anchoring structure provided with a plurality of arms extending in at least three different directions, at least a portion of said anchoring structure residing inwardly of said side surface and between said top and bottom surfaces,` said arms being adapted to be embedded in the material forming a cast for a persons limb.

CREED A. WILTROUT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,141,099 Walters Dec. 20, 1938 2,189,053 Bryant Feb. 6, 1940 2,384,804 Anderson Sept. 18, 1945 2,401,068 Green May 28, 1946 

